Southeast Steuben County Library 300 Nasser Civic Center Plaza Corning, NY 14830 (607) 936-3713
Corning Inc. Headquarters, Corning, NY
The Hornby Museum & Hornby Historical Society
Campbell Central School
Lindley Community Church
The Conhocton River in Coopers Plains
The Caton Grange
The Depot Museum, Village of Painted Post, Town of Erwin |
Visit the Library Home Page Read the latest Library news in The Circulator October 31, 2006 Readers, beware: Little goblins haunt the stacks The Southeast Steuben County Library's youngest patrons were decked out in friendly costumes, mostly, for the Library's annual Halloween Parade earlier today. Butterflies, bumble-bees, leopards and budding flowers outnumbered ghouls, goblins and demons as Mother Goose Story Time and Baby Bookworms infant lap-sit attendees marched in procession though our aisles. Even so, scholarly browsers looked up from their books and computer-users turned away from their terminals as little revelers waved and - when prompted sufficiently by caregivers - said, "Happy Halloween!" If there were any little devils among the marchers, they didn't show it in their behavior. Children's Specialist and storyteller Miss Bobbie, as Raggedy Ann, is shown above (bottom photo, right). Children's Outreach Specialist Sue McConnell facilitates Baby Bookworms infant lap-sits. The Halloween Parade was the second this year at the Library. On Saturday, October 28, youngsters from the Nonnie Hood Parent Resource Center, located above the Library at 300 Nasser Civic Center Plaza, took their own Halloween party downstairs, treating weekend Library users to a similar spectacle. Mother Goose Story Time for toddlers is held every Tuesday and Thursday at the Library from 10:30 am to 11. Baby Bookworms infant lap-sit starts at 10:30 am in the Laura Beer Community Room every Tuesday. Music Rhyme and Story Time is held on Wednesdays from 10:30 am to 11 and again from 1 pm to 1:30 (for children of all ages). Blankets Books and Slippers PJ Story Time, for all children, starts at 7 pm on Thursdays. Story Times run through the end of November and start up again in early spring. Comments & Questions email: turnerb@stls.org Nonprofit arts focus: A Composers' Symposium at CCC View concert poster: Click here
If you are not a composer, you will still want to attend the evening concert, beginning at 7 pm and featuring the Women's Chorale. Tickets for the concert are $8 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets for the all-day event are $25; $10 for students. Call (607) 936-4647 or (607) 936-1517 for tickets and additional information. Tickets are available at 171 Cedar Arts Center prior to the event and at CCC on Nov. 4. The Symposium and Concert is sponsored in part by CCC and made possible with public funds from the New York State Council of the Arts Decentralization program, administered locally by The Arts of the Southern Finger Lakes. Comments & Questions email: turnerb@stls.org Dollar sense: Get More $ Now The Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan New York has put out a free financial education brochure designed to help all New Yorkers make the most of their money and avoid investment scams. The brochure, Get More Money Now, is available at the Library and online at www.bbbmoneynow.org. It is easy to read and understand. It covers: - How to handle credit and debt issues - Retirement plan types for employers and employees - Avoiding investment scams - Choosing basic investments, and - Where to go for more financial information and advice. Links are provided to companies that deliver free annual credit reports, according to federal law. Ask for this useful brochure at the Reference Desk or visit www.bbbmoneynow.org. Comments & Questions email: turnerb@stls.org October 27, 2006 Hot off the press: Scattered Leaves is now online! It's the Southern Tier's newest literary magazine. The Southeast Steuben County Library proudly announces publication of Scattered Leaves, the online magazine of the Torn Page Writers Group. The magazine, or Webzine, is accessible through permanent links on The Circulator (click on the box in the left-hand column) and on the Library home page at ssclibrary.org. The premier issue of the magazine contains short stories, poems and essays - 17 in all - by nine members of the writers group that meets in the Library every other week. The authors range in age from 12 on up to "graduate" members now attending college. The Torn Page Writers Group has more than 20 members. More works of prose and poetry will be added to Scattered Leaves periodically. We hope you will read and enjoy this new publication as it matures. Authors represented so far are: Brendon Cook, Michael Deery, Anna Hoyler, Edwin F. Kindler, Pippin O'Leary, Anthony Rainey, Kyle Thompson, Patrick Wood and Trevor Worthey. If you would like more information about the group, or wish to join, use the "Comments & Questions" link immediately below, or copy the address below into your web-based email. Scattered Leaves is designed and edited by the group's facilitator, an AmeriCorps Kids First Initiative service member. Guidance and oversight is provided by Youth Librarian Shannon Majiros. Comments & Questions email: turnerb@stls.org Free concert: East Meets West The Southern Tier India Cultural Association and Corning Community College will present a free jazz-fusion concert, East Meets West, featuring three acclaimed musicians on Friday, November 10 at the Corning Museum of Glass. Guitarist and vocalist Prasanna, bass guitarist Anthony Jackson and drummer Omar Hakim will perform from 6:30 pm to 9:30. There is no charge for this concert, but entry passes are required. They will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the India Cultural Association. Passes may be obtained by emailing EastWestMusicProgram@Yahoo.com or by calling Corning Community College at (607) 962-9507 or visiting the Student Life Office at the CCC Spencer Hill Campus. Doors open at 6:15 pm. Those with special seating requirements are advised to arrive early. According to the concert producers, Prasanna is "the world's most acclaimed performer of traditional Indian Classical Carnatic music on the guitar," and he has extended that by drawing on Jazz, Classical music, Rock and Blues. Anthony Jackson is "one of the true masters of the electric bass" and is considered the inventor of the modern six-string electric bass. Jazz drummer Omar Hakim has explored many idioms including Rock, Pop, Funk and R&B. He is "one of the world's most recognizable drummers of the last two decades." To view an image of the concert poster, click here. Comments & Questions email: turnerb@stls.org Newly acquired: DVDs Here are just a few of the newly acquired feature films and mini-series on DVD available to check-out from the Southeast Steuben County Library. Call letters are in bold type: Iron Island (2005), Persian dialogue with English subtitles. Cast: Ali Nassirian, Hossein Farzi-Zadeh, Neda Pakdaman, Didar Razeghi, Mehdi Bedeleh, Rahbon Nadali. A derelict oil tanker is home to cast-off members of the Sunni-Arab minority of Iran. When the owner decides to sell it, it is up to the self-proclaimed patriarch of the ship to provide a future for the people of his floating city, no matter the cost. Not rated. 90 minutes. DVD FIC IRO Far Side Of The Moon (2003), French dialogue w. English subtitles. Cast: Robert Lepage, Anne-Marie Cadieux, Marco Poulin, Celine Bonnier, Gregory Hlady, Yves Amyot, Richard Frechette, Erika Gagnon. After the death of his mother, a man tries to discover a meaning to his life, to the universe and to rebuild a relationship with his brother. Not rated. 106 minutes. DVD FIC FAR True Women (1997), Cast: Dana Delany, Annabeth Gish, Angelina Jolie, Tina Majorino, Rachael Leigh Cook, Julie Carmen, Matthew Glave, Michael Greyeyes, Terrence Mann, Jeffrey Nordling, Salli Richardson, Tony Todd, Michael York, Powers Boothe, Charles S. Dutton. A story about two fearless women and survival in the Old West. PG-13. Made for TV. 180 minutes. DVD FIC TRU Inspector Lynley Mysteries (2002-2003) Vol. 1: Well-Schooled In Murder & Payment In Blood. Vol. 2: For The Sake Of Elena & Missing Joseph. Based on the novels of Elizabeth George. Cast: Nathaniel Parker & Sharon Small. Originally seen on the PBS Mystery series. Four discs in two cases. Not rated. Complete Running Time: 6 hours. DVD FIC INS WEL & DVD FIC INS FOR Water (2005), Hindi dialogue, English or Spanish subtitles. Cast: Lisa Ray, John Abraham, Seema Biswas and others. Chuyia, an Indian girl that is married and widowed at eight years old, is sent away to a home where Hindu widows must live in penitence. PG-13. 117 minutes. DVD FIC WAT Who’s Camus Anyway? (2005), Japanese dialogue with English subtitles. Cast: Shuji Kashiwabara, Hinano Yoshikawa, Ai Maeda and others. Japanese students prepare to shoot their first movie. Not rated. 125 minutes. DVD FIC WHO Nicholas and Alexandra (1971). Cast: Michael Jayston, Janet Suzman, others. Lavish retelling of the final years of the Russian Tsar and Empress. PG-13. 189 minutes. DVD FIC NIC Comments & Questions email: turnerb@stls.org Nonprofit event spotlight: CMoG Halloween event is free "Ghosts in the Galleries" on Saturday, October 28 from 5:30 pm to 8 at the Corning Museum of Glass is "totally free" and promises to be great fun for children of all ages. Kids are invited to show off "scary, cute and creative" costumes in the Costume Contest from 5:30 pm to 6 in the CMoG auditorium, and to watch glassmakers create ghosts and pumpkins out of "glowing molten glass" in the Hot Glass Studio. Museum galleries will be open, but bring a flashlight, because on October 28, the galleries will be haunted. There will be live music, "scary snacks" and lots of fun for everyone. Call (607) 974-4084 for more information, or visit the Corning Museum of Glass website at www.CMoG.org. Flyers describing the event are available in the Children's Department in the Library. Comments & Questions email: turnerb@stls.org October 20, 2006 Library upstart: Torn Page Webzine to debut The Southeast Steuben County Library is pleased to announce that Scattered Leaves, the online magazine of the Torn Page Writers Group, will be introduced next week. The first issue of the new Webzine will include fiction and poetry by members of the young writers workshop which meets every other week in the Library. Scattered Leaves will be accessible from a prominent link on the front page of The Circulator at www.theCirculator.org and another on the Library's Home Page at ssclibrary.org. Scattered Leaves will publish at 5 pm on Friday, October 27, 2006. The new links will appear at that time. The Torn Page Writers Group has more than 20 student members ranging in age from 13 on up to "graduate" members now attending college. Participants share short stories, poems and essays in a relaxed café-style setting. The workshop offers members an opportunity for feedback and encouragement from fellow writers. With the introduction of Scattered Leaves next week, members will also have a new outlet for their finished work. If you would like more information about the group, or wish to join, use the "Comments & Questions" link immediately below, or copy the address below into your web-based email. Comments & Questions email: turnerb@stls.org Volunteer Recognition Event: Annual dinner was a blast!
Guitarist-songwriter Steve Messer entertained the sated with original works and old favorites prior to the awards ceremony, and a digital slide-show by Richardson featuring volunteers-in-action highlighted the many contributions of the honorees.
Volunteer and door-prize winner Juanita Olyer, shown at right, selected an ornamental basket when her name was drawn. Thanks were extended to the Friends of the Library, SSC and Sam's Club Foundation, identified as "generous supporters" of the Library's volunteer program. For more photos of the 2006 Southeast Steuben County Library Volunteer Recognition Event, please click here. Comments & Questions email: turnerb@stls.org Where have the new books gone? Sometimes, what you see is what you get. Here at the Library, that storefront maxim doesn't always hold true. Take new books, for instance... Walk through our main entrance, look a little toward your left and you will see our New Books Section, a display of eight book shelves in two tiers along the north side of the Reading Room. You may wonder why these shelves are not tightly packed with new acquisitions. In fact, the shelves are usually half empty. Have we forgotten to order new books? Have we missed the latest bestsellers and other worthy new fiction and nonfiction? No. Our staff regularly acquires the best, and the bestsellers, too. Our New Books Section appears sparsely populated because most of these books are circulating. They are on loan to patrons of the Southeast Steuben County Library and other libraries in the Southern Tier Library System (STLS). Once read and returned, many of these new books never make it back to the floor because a "hold" has been placed by other patrons. Our Circulation staff telephones waiting patrons to let them know their books have arrived. So, when our New Books Section appears less than filled, it is because we have recently acquired the books most in demand by our patrons. If you have a new book in mind that you would like to check out, your best bet is to access our online catalog, StarCat. You can do this at the Library or at home, from any internet-enabled computer, with your library card and PIN. Visit the Library Home Page at this link and click on the "Catalog" link in the menu bar at the top of the page. You can search for the book by title, author, subject or key words, and you can limit your search to this library or to any other library in the STLS system. Or, search almost everywhere the STLS system at once by leaving the right hand drop-down menu at "ANY," the default position. You may also limit your search by year of publication, a good tip if you are looking for the latest book by a particular author. Once you find your book in StarCat, you can check its status by clicking on the "DETAILS" button. From the DETAILS screen, place your hold by clicking on the "HOLD" button. You will be prompted to enter your library card number and PIN. If you've forgotten your PIN, call (607) 936-3713 and we will be glad to help. When your book becomes available, we will notify you by telephone. If the process seems confusing, visit the Reference Desk and we'll show you how it's done. Using StarCat is a good way to ensure reasonably quick access to the latest books. Once you learn how to use StarCat, it's a like having the Library at your fingertips. Comments & Questions email: turnerb@stls.org The Centerway pedestrian bridge in Corning, NY spans the Chemung River. October 16, 2006 Fall color; Saying thanks Autumn foliage has passed peak, for the most part, here in Southeast Steuben County. This morning's widespread frost and tomorrow's likely rain will summon many of us to the outdoors today, if we can manage it, for a taste of sunshine and a dose of mature color. A walk across the Centerway Bridge, shown above (seen October 8), may be just the thing to invigorate the spirit. ----- Where would we be without our volunteers? Volunteers help staff our Circulation Department, work in Technical Services, assist Reference Librarians, maintain and enhance our Local History Collection, perform genealogical research and recycle our discarded paper. Volunteers help with our displays, water our plants, do inventory, assist in development programs, take on special projects, sing songs for children ... You name it. Volunteers do it. Each year, the Southeast Steuben County Library recognizes our many volunteers with a dinner, special awards ceremony and entertainment. It is a fun evening for all, and we look forward to it. The Volunteer Recognition Event, to be held tomorrow evening, October 17, is by invitation only. We'll show you what went on at the event in these pages later this week. You can celebrate with us next year by becoming a Southeast Steuben County Library Volunteer today. For information, please call Volunteer Coordinator Kathleen Richardson at (607) 936-3713 ext. 213. ----- Don't forget to visit the Friends of the Library Autumn Book Sale all this week at the East Corning Fire Hall. Prices get lower as the sale days go by and there are thousands of books available, arranged for easy browsing. Shown below, the Friend's book sale kicked off Saturday with a special member's preview. The sale opened to the general public on Sunday. Click here for complete information.
Comments & Questions email: turnerb@stls.org October 13, 2006 Book Sale opens this weekend At the East Corning Fire Hall earlier today, everything was being readied for this weekend's opening of the Friends of the Library, SSC Autumn Book Sale. Thousands of books, tapes, CDs, videos and more will be sold for little or next-to-nothing at the week-long event in support of Southeast Steuben County Library programs and events. Shown above, from left, Friends volunteer and board member Marvel Monks and Friends volunteer Connie Holding work to make sure everything will go right during the sale. A large volunteer crew, led by sale coordinator Nancy Doutt, has been on the job since Monday, said Monks, who has put in full-time hours herself since opening day preparations began. For hours of operation, the schedule of progressive deep discounts, and for driving directions, click here. To learn about the year-round effort to collect, sort and store tens of thousands of donated books, click here. Comments & Questions email: turnerb@stls.org Please don't attend our Gala Ball!
Here at the Library, we encourage you to do just that. It is true, we need your support. So please do not attend the second annual "You Can't Judge a Book by its Cover" Reader's Ball. Please do buy a ticket. Your $35 ticket makes you eligible for our gala door prize drawing here on Monday, November 13 at 7 pm. You can win a 32" Mintek LCD HDTV/DVD (from Best Buy), a pearl & diamond ring (from Littman Jewelers), a $100 gift certificate from J.C. Penney or a $50 gift certificate from Barnes & Noble. Ticket proceeds benefit the programs of the Southeast Steuben County Library. Obtain your ticket at the Circulation Desk or call (607) 936-3713 ext. 208. Send your check or money order to: Southeast Steuben County Library Be sure to include your return address, so we can send you your ticket. For more information, visit the Circulation Desk, call (607) 936-3713 ext. 208 or email Wexelld@stls.org. Buy a ticket. Stay home. Read a book. There is no better way to spend your money, or your time. Comments & Questions email: turnerb@stls.org Thanks to Corning Inc. Foundation and Wegman's Foundation, the Southeast Steuben County Library now has a portable computer lab. Its 12 computers will be used for public classes at the Library and in other locations throughout our service area. October 11, 2006 New Horizons: Laptop lab extends our reach Today, Library Director Lise Gilliland said she was pleased to announce that our new 12-station portable computer lab is ready to serve the public. "We thank Corning Inc. Foundation and Wegman's Foundation for making this new capability possible," Gilliland said. "These state-of-the-art, internet enabled laptops will broaden our ability to offer computer classes here at the Library, and allow us to offer new classes here and elsewhere in our wide service area." "In addition to the new wide-screen, WiFi equipped laptops, the generosity of Corning Inc. and Wegman's foundations allowed us to enhance our lab with a high-definition projector and screen. Students will be able to follow the instructor's pointer and mouse clicks as they learn in a hands-on workshop setting how to make the most of today's information technologies," Gilliland said. Adult Services Librarian Matthew Hogan, who serves as instructor for computer classes at the Southeast Steuben County Library, is shown above with the new laptop lab. Prior computer classes here were facilitated by Southern Tier Library System (STLS) eight-station portable computer labs. Technical help from STLS was instrumental in getting our new lab up and running. The new lab gives the Southeast Steuben County Library the opportunity to offer more classes to more students, and gives us the chance to bring our classes to rural locations within the Library service area. Southeast Steuben County Library computer classes are offered free-of-charge or carry a small fee for printed materials. Comments & Questions email: turnerb@stls.org Proactive parenting: Start Tuesdays with baby lapsits
Our Baby Bookworms infant lapsit program is for moms, dads, grandparents and other caregivers and their babies (6 weeks to 18 months). We encourage you and your infant to join this lively group every Tuesday at 10:30 am. Click here for a map and driving directions to the Southeast Steuben County Library. Or, for bus routes and schedules, click here. Comments & Questions email: turnerb@stls.org Halloween Parade, Sat., 10/28 The Nonnie Hood Parent Resource Center (PRC) and the Southeast Steuben County Library will participate in "The PRC Halloween Bash!" on Saturday, October 28. PRC revelers will parade through the Library and join the general public downstairs for a special Story Time from 2:30 pm to 3. The PRC is located directly above the Library at 300 Nasser Civic Center Plaza in Corning. Call the PRC at (607) 936-3837 for additional information about the event and PRC membership, or drop by the PRC front desk. Come to the Halloween Parade at the Library at 2:30. It is guaranteed to make everyone look up from their books! Comments & Questions email: turnerb@stls.org Minus Space is Art on the Web If you like to keep things simple, and if this principle influences your aesthetic sensibilities, then consider visiting Minus Space, a virtual art gallery whose curators favor "innovative reductive, concept-based art by international artists working in all media." Minus Space displays images of the recent work of more than 40 artists, plus text of artist interviews, a directory of the artists, critical essays, reviews and related resources. Minus Space is a real gallery as well as a website. Located in Brooklyn, NY, the gallery is open by appointment only. On the internet, you can drop by anytime. Just click here. Comments & Questions email: turnerb@stls.org October 2, 2006 Notice: The Circulator will publish next on Monday, October 9. This week, the principal writer/editor is attending a conference. Please visit our archives (see right-hand column on this page) and join us next week! Visit the Library Home Page Read the latest Library news in The Circulator |
Music
lovers will not want to miss the New York Sings Composers' Symposium
and Concert at Corning Community
College (CCC) on November 4. A special project of The Women's Chorale of
Southeast Steuben County Library volunteers,
staff and Board of Trustees members enjoyed great food, music, awards
and general merriment yesterday at the annual Volunteer Recognition
Event. Held in the Laura Beer Community Room, the festive dinner and
celebration drew a capacity crowd made up of the Library's most
hard-working supporters. Board Member Jane Fenn praised volunteers for
their efforts in making our Library a vital community resource; and, on
behalf of the entire staff, Missy Knowles thanked volunteers for their
dedication and enthusiasm.
Between mouthfuls, attendees signaled approval
of the grand buffet, catered by Wegman's, which included hot and cold
cuisine from around the world, from roasted rosemary potatos to sushi to pizza
to fine sandwich wraps, salads and much more. An enormous platter of elegant
dessert pastries prompted oohs! and ahs! and feigned protests from
calorie counters, all to the relief of Volunteer Coordinator Kathleen
Richardson, who organized the evening.
Adult Services Librarian Matthew Hogan and
Circulation Manager Marcia Stewart presented pins to volunteers (where
present) who have reached various benchmarks of service. Darin Robbins
was awarded a pin for his remarkable 2,000 hours of service. Carol
Araujo, Barbara Cook and Anna Rice were awarded pins for 1,000 hours.
Nancy Doutt, John Gignac, Ed Herman, Jean Humphrey, Evie Lewis and Peg
Morey were cited for 500 hours. Kate Danforth, Emily Michaloski, Hazel
Russell, Mary Ellen Simmons, Marguerite Tammaro and Kathy Tong were
praised for 250 hours of service.
Just before the festivities ended, various
door prizes including food and candy baskets, miniature radios, a
shoulder bag, ornamental bouquets and a $25 gift certificate to Wegman's
were presented to lucky winners of the drawing, presided over by
Richardson and Carol Araujo.
When was the last time you attended a "gala"
fundraising ball you really enjoyed? Is your memory that
long? Think about the mediocre cuisine, the vacuous speeches, the
lurking sycophants, the uncomfortable attire... Some of us would rather
stay home and read a book.
Thanks to the Triangle Foundation, the
Southeast Steuben County Library now offers a weekly infant lapsit
program. Every Tuesday morning, Early Childhood Outreach Specialist Sue
McConnell (shown at left) leads babies and their caregivers in interactive storytelling
and playful activities designed to encourage cognition and develop motor
skills in the very young. Today in the Laura Beer Community Room,
McConnell worked with 24 participants (12 infant-caregiver pairs) in a
half-hour of guided fun and wholesome bonding.